Bihar polls: HAM suffers jolt, core committee member resigns

Hindustani Awam Morcha of Jitan Ram Manjhi received a jolt with a member of its core committee,Devendra Prasad Yadav resigning from the party today for its "surrendering in place of agreement over seat-sharing with NDA" in the forthcoming Bihar assembly polls.

Patna: Hindustani Awam Morcha of Jitan Ram Manjhi received a jolt with a member of its core committee,Devendra Prasad Yadav resigning from the party today for its "surrendering in place of agreement over seat-sharing with NDA" in the forthcoming Bihar assembly polls.

"I have sent my resignation to Manjhi," Devendra Prasad Yadav told PTI and said he and many other leaders of HAM have launched a new party called Samajwadi Janata Dal.

Yadav said he and other members of HAM were of the opinion that Manjhi would stand his ground and would not accept less than 50 seats in the understanding with NDA for the coming Bihar assembly polls.

"But, he surrendered in place of reaching an agreement over seats in accordance with the strength of the HAM," he said.

HAM got 20 seats and five of its members would contest on BJP symbol in the Bihar polls.

"We thought Jitan Ram Manjhi coming from the land of Dasrath Manjhi who is known as 'mountain man' for constructing a road through the mountain would stand for the honour of the poor in seat sharing with NDA. But he surrendered," said Yadav, who is a disciple of socialist leader Karpoori Thakur and had served as minister in the governments of V P Singh and H D Deve Gowda.

Meanwhile, HAM spokesman Danish Rizwan said in a statement that the party was a family and would resolve the issue with Yadav through talks.

"Devendra Yadav is like a guardian of the party and we are sure he will rethink over his resignation," he added.